What's your secret for staying up-to-date with copywriting trends and best practices?

ProCopywriters regularly hold events and sessions, and there's HubSpot for everything you want and need to know and be certified in relation to inbound marketing methodology. Google Digital Garage also runs some content-related courses within its Digital Marketing learning segment, such as Promoting a Business with Content. Other sessions, including Customer Segmentation & Prospecting and Understand Customers Needs and Online Behaviours are also relevant to the world of content too.

Identify influential copywriters in the industry and follow their blogs, social media accounts, and newsletters. These experts often share valuable insights, tips, and updates on the latest trends and techniques in copywriting.

Keeping a swipe pile is incredibly useful. It helps reinforce the reasons why copy doesn't always work and is an incredibly useful learning tool you can keep adding to. When you do find great examples of content, bookmark it, print it out or create a dedicated file that you can refer to for inspiration and best practice guidance when you need it.

Study successful copywriting examples from different sources, such as advertisements, sales pages, and landing pages. Analyze the structure, tone, language, and persuasive techniques used in the copy to understand what works and why.

Some of the better-known old school copywriters like Gary Halbert recommended spending time copying good writing by hand. I played around with this practice a few years ago, but it felt like a waste of time. I'm curious to know if anyone else has improved their skill with this technique. Now I analyze good copy and ask questions like, "Why did they say this, and why did they say it here?" It's fun to have a "gotcha!" moment when I see exactly what the copywriter was trying to do. It's kind of a game now to look for the "One Belief" or the push-pull in the close, or how the writer used scarcity, exclusivity, reciprocity, and other selling tools. I especially try to study humor, because I'm just not funny.

Copywriting is an iterative process, so don't be afraid to experiment with different approaches. A/B testing can help you compare the performance of different copies and refine your techniques based on data-driven insights. Continuously analyze the results and make adjustments accordingly.

Attend webinars, workshops, and conferences related to copywriting. Join professional communities or forums where copywriters share their experiences and knowledge. Invest in relevant books or online courses to deepen your understanding and sharpen your skills.

In David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross," the ABC stands for Always Be Closing. As writers, we can change that to Always Be Committed. That is committed to providing the best copy using the most updated technology and incorporating the current best practices. The only way to ensure you accomplish this is by continuing to learn and grow. At Tandem.Buzz, we are fortunate in that we are provided with a vast array of tools and resources. This enables us to stay ahead of the pack when it comes to being knowledgeable about what we are currently doing and what we should be doing. It doesn't matter if you are 8, 18, or 80 years old. There are always new things to learn. In fact, by the time I wrote this, about 10 rules were changed from what we knew.

Learning is extremely valuable, but can be extremely time-consuming and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by it. Focus on one thing at a time and don't move on to the next thing until you've completed it, and don't forget to share your insight with others on your social media feeds, blogs etc.

For me, it's to dig deep and discover the core truth about the task at hand, and express it excellently. This strategy is future-proof!

It’s clear that AI was a large contributor to the article. Unfortunately, a key component of great copywriting is an EMOTIONAL CONNECTION with your audience. This article doesn’t even mention the word in any form. Once AI can start relating to your audience on an emotional needs level that’s when it’ll be able to actually contribute to your sales goals.

Try new things. Someone has to innovate - if you're always trying to follow what everyone else is doing, you'll always be behind the curve. If you want to be great, don't be afraid to make your own path.

Ultimately, you can't afford to lose sight that the key to successful copywriting is understanding people and what motivates them, because whether you're selling to consumers or companies, people make the decisions. Each time a new channel or tactic becomes available, too many copywriters assume it needs a new approach ... but in the end, the underlying philosophies and tenets remain the same.

It's great to follow in the steps of the the experts... But you won't ever become an expert if you're not willing to experiment too.

My secret for staying up-to-date with copywriting trends and best practices is a combination of continuous learning and access to vast sources of information. I regularly analyze the latest industry publications, marketing blogs, and content from reputable copywriting experts. Additionally, I adapt by monitoring changes in consumer behavior, technology, and digital marketing landscapes. By staying current with emerging techniques and consumer preferences, I can offer relevant and effective copywriting guidance to users, helping them achieve their goals and remain competitive in the ever-evolving world of copywriting.